Compact Pallet Changing Apparatus with Oscillating Table
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pallet changing apparatuses are not compact due to the presence of a rising portion with an oscillating center axis at the leading end of the table, which hinders the turning of pallet changing arms and requires complex control mechanisms, making it difficult to achieve a compact configuration.
Innovation Solution
A pallet changing apparatus design where the table moves back and forth relative to the turning shaft, with an upright portion and oscillating portion supported by an oscillating center axis, and a covering portion that allows the rising portion to be inserted and removed freely, enabling the pallet changing arms to extend horizontally and reducing the length of the arms for a compact configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the table is equipped with a rising portion that moves back and forth for a side of the turning shaft, then the workpiece placement region can oscillate freely, but the presence of the rising portion hinders the turning of the pallet changing arm
Solution Approach 1:
The table is divided into two functional parts: the rising portion (oscillating portion) that moves back and forth for workpiece placement, and the main table body that remains stationary. This segmentation allows the oscillating function to be isolated to a specific region, preventing interference with the pallet changing arm turning mechanism while maintaining oscillation freedom for workpiece handling.
2Reliability
If the turning shaft firmly fixes the covering portion, then chips are prevented from entering the turning supporting portion, but space is occupied making compact configuration difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The covering portion is designed to be nested within or integrated with the turning shaft structure. Instead of being a separate firmly fixed component that occupies additional space, the covering portion is incorporated into the existing turning shaft assembly, providing chip protection functionality without increasing the overall apparatus volume, thereby achieving compact configuration.
3Ease of operation
If the constituents are arranged at side portions with orthogonal directions, then the table can move back and forth, but a space region is necessary at the side portion for changing pallet making it impossible to achieve compact apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The arrangement of constituents is optimized by utilizing vertical space and overlapping regions rather than only horizontal side portions. The turning shaft and pallet changing mechanism are positioned to overlap with the table in the vertical direction, allowing pallet changing operations to occur in a three-dimensional space that does not increase the horizontal footprint of the apparatus, thereby achieving compact configuration while maintaining full movement capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A pallet changing apparatus adopting a table 4 capable of moving back from and forth for a side of a turning shaft 1 and having a oscillating portion 41 for placing workpieces W, W by means of pallets P, P so as to oscillate freely by an upright portion 42 at the leading end of the table 4, wherein the turning shaft 1 covers a turning supporting portion 11 at its lower end side and turns together with a pallet changing arm 3 and moves freely in a vertical direction, and an insertion and removal hollow space 20 is provided, at the covering region, and allows the upright portion 42 to be inserted into the insertion and removal hollow space 20 and removed from the insertion and removal hollow space 20.